U.S. patent application number 16/377951 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-01 for protective swim cap.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mako International, LLC. Invention is credited to David Burns, Theresa Finn, Raul Fracassi, Jordan Hamilton, Kenneth Starcznski.
Application Number | 20190232114 16/377951 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67392751 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-01 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190232114 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burns; David ; et
al. |
August 1, 2019 |
PROTECTIVE SWIM CAP
Abstract
A wearable safety feature used to protect users from injuries
caused by impact or collision. More specifically, a wearable safety
feature having alternating solid free space and open cells that can
be used on its own or in combination with additional protective
equipment. A layer of open, pillar-shaped cells can be alternated
with solid material and can have apertures exposed to an inner or
outer surface of the safety feature or piece of protective
equipment. A hard, outer shell can be placed over the safety
feature so that the safety feature is located between the hard,
outer shell and the wearer.
Inventors: |
Burns; David; (Edina,
MN) ; Finn; Theresa; (Plymouth, MN) ;
Starcznski; Kenneth; (Plymouth, MN) ; Hamilton;
Jordan; (Eden Prairie, MN) ; Fracassi; Raul;
(Deephaven, MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mako International, LLC |
Plymouth |
MN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
67392751 |
Appl. No.: |
16/377951 |
Filed: |
April 8, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15109207 |
Jun 30, 2016 |
10252111 |
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PCT/US14/72788 |
Dec 30, 2014 |
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16377951 |
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62045153 |
Sep 3, 2014 |
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61922062 |
Dec 30, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 1/12 20130101; A42B
1/08 20130101; A63B 33/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 33/00 20060101
A63B033/00; A42B 1/08 20060101 A42B001/08; A42B 1/12 20060101
A42B001/12 |
Claims
1. A wearable safety device to cushion against impact or collision,
the safety device comprised of: an outer surface; an inner surface
positioned to face a user's body when the wearable safety device is
being worn; a layer of open, pillar-shaped cells above the inner
surface; solid material between the plurality of open,
pillar-shaped cells; and a solid layer between the plurality of
open, pillar-shaped cells and the inner surface; wherein: the solid
material and the plurality of open, pillar-shaped cells are
alternating and arranged in a honeycomb structure; the open,
pillar-shaped cells each have an aperture on the outer surface; and
at least a portion of the safety device is flexible.
2. The wearable safety device of claim 1, wherein the wearable
safety device is located between two layers of fabric.
3. The wearable safety device of claim 1, wherein the open,
pillar-shaped cells vary in diameter.
4. The wearable safety device of claim 1, wherein the alternating
solid material and open cells are in a honeycomb structure.
5. The wearable safety device of claim 1, wherein the wearable
safety device is part of a larger piece of protective equipment and
is removably attached to the protective equipment.
6. The wearable safety device of claim 5, wherein the wearable
safety device connects to the protective equipment via a
pocket.
7. The wearable safety device of claim 5, wherein the protective
equipment has a hard, outer shell and the safety device is located
between the hard, outer shell and a wearer.
8. The wearable safety device of claim 7, wherein the protective
equipment is a shin guard.
9. The wearable safety device of claim 7, wherein the protective
equipment is a helmet.
10. The wearable safety device of claim 5, wherein the protective
equipment further includes a sleeve that holds the safety feature
in place on a wearer.
11. The wearable safety device of claim 1, wherein the open,
pillar-shaped cells vary in depth.
12. The wearable safety device of claim 1, wherein the open,
pillar-shaped cells extend throughout a portion of protective
equipment.
13. The wearable safety device of claim 1, wherein the open,
pillar-shaped cells extend throughout a piece of protective
equipment to cover the entire piece of protective equipment.
14. A protective cap comprising: a cap with a front, a top, a back,
and a bottom edge; and a safety feature located on the front, the
top, and the back of the cap; wherein: the safety feature is
comprised of a layer of alternating solid material and open cells
that are in a honeycomb structure; and the open cells each have an
aperture on an exposed exterior surface of the protective cap.
15. The protective cap of claim 14, wherein the protective cap is
tapered from front to back, with a front portion of the protective
cap being shorter than a back portion of the protective cap.
16. The protective cap of claim 14, wherein the open cells vary in
diameter.
17. The protective cap of claim 14, wherein the open cells vary in
depth.
18. The protective cap of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of
the open cells proximate to the top of the cap have greater depth
than at least a portion of the open cells near at least one of the
front or the back of the cap.
19. The protective cap of claim 14, wherein the safety feature is
removable.
20. The protective cap of claim 19, wherein the safety feature
connects to the protective cap via a pocket.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 15/109,207, filed Jun. 30, 2016, titled
PROTECTIVE SWIM CAP, which is a 371 of International Application
No. PCT/US14/72788, filed Dec. 30, 2014, titled PROTECTIVE SWIM
CAP, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/922,082, filed Dec. 30, 2013, titled PROTECTIVE SWIM CAP and
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/045,153,
filed Sep. 3, 2014, titled PROTECTIVE SWIM CAP.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Sports-related head injuries and concussions have become
increasingly common. The frequency of injuries is growing each year
while public tolerance is shrinking. These injuries vary in
complexity with each sport, and there is a need to minimize or
eliminate these injuries altogether.
[0003] Head injuries are common in swimming pools. Swimmers obtain
head injuries by hitting their head on a rigid pool surface, such
as the walls, or by running into other swimmers as they learn to
swim, train to swim faster, and compete on a regular basis. Whether
or not these injuries result in long-term negative physical effects
or are shaken off, swimmers are repeatedly at risk of head injuries
or concussions when they have impacts with the wall or other
swimmers.
[0004] Current swim caps are round, do not mimic the shape of the
human head, wrinkle when they are worn, and do not cover a
swimmer's ears. All of these features increase drag and swim times
for competitive swimmers. Additionally, swimmers frequently have to
wear two caps: a regular silicone cap and a racing cap to cover the
wrinkles in the silicone cap.
[0005] A swim cap is needed that fits like a traditional latex or
silicone swim cap, but that protects swimmers from head injuries
due to impact with a wall or other swimmers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The protective swim cap disclosed herein is a product that
swimmers can use to protect their head from injuries caused by
collision with pool walls or other swimmers. More specifically, the
protective swim cap is made from an elastic material, has a safety
feature, and is long enough to cover a swimmer's ears. With
knowledge of the safety feature, a swimmer has less need to worry
about head trauma and can, therefore, focus on swimming faster as
they approach walls for turns and finishes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a bottom cross-sectional view of one version of a
protective swim cap with a safety feature.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a right side cross-sectional view of the
protective swim cap of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a left side view of the protective swim cap of
FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is rear view of the protective swim cap of FIG.
1.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a top view of the protective swim cap of FIG.
1.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view of the protective
swim cap of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a back view of a one version of a protective swim
cap with a dimpled safety feature.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a top view of the protective swim cap of FIG.
7.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a bottom cross-sectional view of one version of a
protective swim cap with a safety feature.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a right side cross-sectional view of the
protective swim cap of FIG. 9.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a left side view of the protective swim cap of
FIG. 9.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a rear view of the protective swim cap of FIG.
9.
[0019] FIG. 13 is a top view of the protective swim cap of FIG.
9.
[0020] FIG. 14 is a front cross-sectional view of the protective
swim cap of FIG. 9.
[0021] FIG. 15 is a front view of the protective swim cap of FIG.
9.
[0022] FIG. 16 is a back view of the protective swim cap of FIG.
9.
[0023] FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view of the protective swim
cap of FIG. 9.
[0024] FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the protective swim cap of FIG.
9.
[0025] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional right side view of the
protective swim cap of FIG. 9.
[0026] FIG. 20 is a left side view of the protective swim cap of
FIG. 9.
[0027] FIG. 21 is a right side view of the protective swim cap of
FIG. 9.
[0028] FIG. 22 is a perspective side view of the protective swim
cap of FIG. 9.
[0029] FIG. 23 is a top view of the protective swim cap of FIG.
9.
[0030] FIG. 24 is a front view of one version of a protective swim
cap without a safety feature.
[0031] FIG. 25 is a back view of the protective swim cap of FIG.
24.
[0032] FIG. 26 is a left side view of the protective swim cap of
FIG. 24.
[0033] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional right side view of the
protective swim cap of FIG. 24.
[0034] FIG. 28 is a top view of the protective swim cap of FIG.
24.
[0035] FIG. 29 is a bottom view of the protective swim cap of FIG.
24.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] The present disclosure relates to a protective swim cap that
reduces the likelihood of head injuries when worn in a swimming
pool. Various embodiments of the protective swim cap will be
described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like
reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout
the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit
the scope of the protective swim cap disclosed herein.
Additionally, any examples set forth are not intended to be
limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments
for the protective swim cap. It is understood that various
omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as
circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are
intended to cover applications or embodiments without departing
from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Also, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for
the purpose of description and should not be regarded as
limiting.
[0037] In some embodiments, the protective swim cap is made from an
elastic material that reforms its original shape after being
stretched with varying degrees of tensile and elongation in a
material such as, but not limited to, silicone, silicone
composition, latex or other materials with similar properties to
achieve desired results. The protective swim cap, in preferred
embodiments, has a safety feature 102 that can provide a cushioning
effect in the case of contact with a hard object or surface or
other swimmer to protect the head of a swimmer. With knowledge of
the safety feature 102, a swimmer can minimize worry about head
trauma and, therefore, try harder to swim faster into the walls for
turns. In some embodiments, the protective swim cap can have a
safety feature 102 and be of an overall uniform thickness. In other
embodiments, the protective swim cap can have a safety feature 102
and be of varying thicknesses in different areas. For example, the
front 202, top 204, and back 206 may all be thicker than the sides
302. Alternatively, in some embodiments, only the front 202, top
204, back 206, or some combination of the three may be thicker than
the rest of the protective swim cap. In other embodiments, the
protective swim cap may be thicker along the bottom edge 602 of the
protective swim cap than it is at other locations on the protective
swim cap, as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 10, 14, and 19.
[0038] The safety feature 102 can generally be located above the
protective swim cap's underside 208, which is smooth and flat and
intended to be in contact with the swimmer's head, as illustrated
in FIGS. 2, 10, and 19. The safety feature 102 can also have a
specified width at the crown of the protective swim cap and a
specified rise. In one embodiment, the rise is greater in the
center of the protective swim cap and decreases as it expands out
onto the sides 302 of the protective swim cap, as illustrated in
FIGS. 4, 6, and 14.
[0039] In some embodiments, the safety feature 102 is a permanent
feature of the protective swim cap. In other embodiments, the
safety feature 102 is removable from the protective swim cap to
enable a user to vary the amount of protection the user has. For
example, if a user is swimming and wants to practice diving, the
user can remove a safety feature 102 with less protection and
replace it with a safety feature 102 that offers more protection.
If removable, the safety feature 102 can be connected to the
protective swim cap via a pocket. For example, the inside of the
protective swim cap can have an opening to a pocket, whereby the
safety feature 102 can be slid into the pocket. Alternatively, the
safety feature 102 can be attached to the inside or the outside of
the protective swim cap through an adhesive, hook and loop, or
other releasable or connector/attachment means. In other
embodiments, the protective swim cap does not have any safety
feature 102, but maintains the size, fit, length, and thickness of
the various embodiments of the protective swim cap described herein
that contain the safety feature 102.
[0040] In some embodiments, the safety feature 102 can be made up
of alternating, and repeated, solid free space 104 and open cells
106, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 9, 10, 14, and 17-19. In some
embodiments, the alternating solid free space 104 and open cells
106 are in a honeycomb pillar structure. However, the honeycomb
pillar structure is not required for the safety feature 102 to be
effective. Therefore, other geometrical patterns such as, but not
limited to, lines of open cells 106, alternating open cells 106,
circles or arcs of open cells 106, or other repeating or
non-repeating patterns, can be implemented using the solid free
space 104 and open cells 106. In some embodiments, the open cells
106 of the safety feature 102 are open to the air on the inside of
the protective swim cap. In other embodiments, the open cells 106
are covered and sealed to prevent water from getting into the open
cells 106 when the protective swim cap is underwater.
[0041] The solid free space 104 of the safety feature 102 can be
made of solid silicone, silicone composition, latex, or other
materials with similar properties to achieve desired results. The
open cells 106 of the safety feature 102 can be a variety of
three-dimensional shapes such as, but not limited to, hexagons,
columns, cylinders, cones, or spheres. Further, the open cells 106
can vary in size for different safety needs. For example, triathlon
open water swimmers, training divers, or other individuals
participating in extreme events may need more protection and, thus,
deeper open cells 106. In some embodiments, the safety feature 102
can be about 0.50 to 0.75 inches tall and the individual open cells
106 can vary in diameter from about 0.125 to 0.375 inches, wherein
some of the open cells 106 have an outer diameter of about 0.25
inches and in an inner diameter of about 0.125 inches and some of
the open cells 106 have an outer diameter of about 0.375 inches and
an inner diameter of about 0.25 inches. In some embodiments, the
safety feature 102 can have a solid layer between the open cells
106 and the surface of the protective swim cap that is about 0.10
inches in depth.
[0042] In some embodiments, and the variation in size can be based
on the location of the open cells 106 on the protective swim cap.
For example, in one embodiment, the open cells 106 can vary in
depth and the deepest open cells 106 can be located at the very top
204 of the dome of the protective swim cap. As the rounded contour
of the protective swim cap fades into the smooth sides 302, the
open cells 106 can get shallower, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 14.
Similarly the open cells 106 can vary in width or diameter, as
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, wherein open cells 106 that have a
narrower diameter offer more protection than open cells 106 that
have a broader diameter. Therefore, in one embodiment, the
narrowest open cells 106 can be located at the very top 204 of the
dome of the protective swim cap and the wider open cells 106 can be
located on the sides 302 of the protective swim cap, or vice versa.
In another embodiment, each open cell 106 may be a specified
diameter at the top 204 of the protective swim cap and may taper
down in diameter at the outer surface of the safety feature 102 of
the protective swim cap, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6.
[0043] The safety feature 102 can begin around a swimmer's hairline
in front and proceed from the front of the head to the back of the
skull, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-10, 14, and 17-19. Further, the
safety feature 102 can be any number of widths, thereby offering
various amounts of protection to a swimmer. Therefore, open cells
106 that run down the front-to-back center, or near-center, line of
the protective swim cap may be narrower or deeper than open cells
106 that run down the front-to-back lines on the sides 302 of the
protective swim cap. In another embodiment, open cells 106 along
the side-to-side midline, or near-midline, of the protective swim
cap may be narrower or deeper than open cells 106 that are located
at the front 202 or back 206 of the protective swim cap, as
illustrated in FIG. 10, where the open cells 106 near the midline
are deeper than those in the back 206, and in FIG. 19, where the
open cells 106 near the midline are deeper than those in both the
front 202 and the back 206. In a further embodiment, open cells 106
along the side-to-side midline, or near-midline, of the protective
swim cap may be the same depth or width as open cells 106 that are
located at the front 202 or back 206 of the protective swim cap, as
illustrated in FIG. 10, where the open cells 106 in the front 202
are the same depth as those near the midline. In preferred
embodiments, the protective swim cap will not have open cells 106
in certain areas, such as the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1,
2, 6, 9, 10, 14, and 17-19. In some embodiments, the protective
swim cap will not have any open cells 106, as illustrated in FIGS.
24-29.
[0044] Additionally, the locations of the open cells 106 of the
safety feature 102 can vary in respect to distance from one
another. In some embodiments, the open cells 106 can be evenly
spaced throughout the protective swim cap or the region of the
protective swim cap intended to contain open cells 106. The open
cells 106 can be very close together, at a moderate distance from
each other, or more spread apart, depending on the safety needs of
the swimmer, with open cells 106 that are spaced closer together
offering greater protection upon impact. In other embodiments, the
spacing of the open cells 106 can vary depending on the region of
the protective swim cap. For example, the open cells 106 may be
closer together at the top 204 and front 202 of the protective swim
cap, but further apart on the back 206 and sides 302 of the
protective swim cap. Alternatively, the back 206 of the protective
swim cap, in addition to the front 202 and top 204, could also have
open cells 106 spaced close together. In another embodiment, the
open cells 106 may be closer together at the back 206 and top 204
of the protective swim cap, but further apart on the front 202 and
sides 302 of the protective swim cap.
[0045] Overall, varying of cell spacing, cell diameter, open cell
thickness, and silicone, silicone composition, latex, or other
composition of the safety feature 102 can affect resilience and
impact absorption properties of the safety feature 102 of the
protective swim cap. For example, a diver may want maximum
protection in case the diver hits his or her head on the diving
board. For this type of situation, a protective swim cap safety
feature 102 would be preferred that covers the entire protective
swim cap and has open cells 106 that are uniformly deep, narrower
in diameter, and very close together. In another example, a swimmer
who swims the front crawl and back crawl would use a protective
swim cap with a safety feature 102 comprising open cells 106 on the
top 204, front 202, and back 206 that are deeper, narrower, and
closer together compared to the open cells 106 on the sides
302.
[0046] In one embodiment, the outer surface of the safety feature
102 may be smooth, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, 11-13, 15, 16, and
20-29. In another embodiment, the outer surface of the safety
feature 102 may have a convex, dimpled texture for a hydrodynamic
benefit, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. In some embodiments, the
surface can be a random pebbled or course sandpaper style finish on
the top 204 of the protective swim cap. The non-smooth surface can
fade to a smooth finish on the sides 302 and back 206 of the
protective swim cap, which allows for design imprinting on the
protective swim cap. While the non-smooth surface at or near the
leading edge of the protective swim cap (i.e., the front 202 and
top 204 of the protective swim cap) decreases laminar flow by
breaking up the flow, reduces turbulence and drag over the
protective swim cap and, therefore, increases the speed of water
flowing over the surface of the protective swim cap, the location
of the rough surface can be anywhere, or everywhere, on the
protective swim cap. However, while convexities on the sides 302
and the back 206 of the protective swim cap are possible, they will
likely produce drag and turbulence due to the trailing edge area.
Therefore, the preferred embodiment has convexities at only the
front 202 and top 204 of the protective swim cap, while the
remainder of the protective swim cap is smooth. In some
embodiments, the texture of the non-smooth surface can be uniform
or random so as to disrupt laminar flow. In some embodiments, the
non-smooth area can be around, or less than, 1 mm tall. By
addressing this water/cap boundary layer, the water streamlines
over the protective swim cap and swimmer, thus allowing the swimmer
to swim faster. Faster speeds can also be obtained because, in one
embodiment, the protective swim cap can eliminate material
wrinkling, which creates drag for swimmers.
[0047] The protective swim cap can be shaped to accommodate the
safety feature 102 and the shape of the swimmer's head. It can also
cover the swimmer's ears. Generally, instead of having a round
shape, the protective swim cap can have the anatomical shape of a
human head. This design results in a better, tighter fit when worn.
In this embodiment, the protective swim cap automatically covers
the entirety of a swimmer's ears. The swimmer does not have to
repeatedly pull the protective swim cap down over his or her ears
and does not have to worry about the protective swim cap only
covering a portion of the swimmer's ears, unlike round caps. In
addition to the general shape, the protective swim cap is tapered
to fit the head, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5, 8, 9, 13 18, 23, and
29. These features work together to create a better fit on a
swimmer's head, greater comfort for the swimmer, and no wrinkles
when worn, which results in less drag in the water. By keeping the
ears covered, the user can reduce the chance of getting ear
infections and can reduce drag caused by water flowing in, out, and
around the ear. In some embodiments, the front 202 of the
protective swim cap is shorter than the back 206 of the protective
swim cap, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 10, 11, 15, 19-21, 24, 26,
and 27. Solid material silicone, which can be thicker silicone or
silicone composition material, can run along the bottom edge of the
protective swim cap in order to provide greater durability for
repeated use and to provide a tighter seal on the swimmers head to
prevent water leaking into the protective swim cap. For example, in
one embodiment, the thickness of the protective swim cap can be
about 0.0275 inches thick and the thickness of the bottom edge can
be about 0.0475 inches thick.
[0048] Various embodiments are illustrated herein. FIGS. 1 through
23 illustrate embodiments of the disclosure that include the safety
feature 102 and are of an anatomically correct shape. FIGS. 1
through 6 illustrate a first embodiment, FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a
second embodiment that is similar to the first embodiment, but
wherein the safety feature 102 has a dimpled outer surface, and
FIGS. 9 through 23 illustrate a third embodiment that covers a
similar amount of the head as the first and second embodiments, but
wherein the depth of the solid free spaces 104 and open cells 106
and the diameter of the open cells 106 are smaller than that of the
first embodiment and the tapered transition from the safety feature
102 on the top 204 of the protective swim cap to the sides 302 of
the protective swim cap is different.
[0049] In a fourth embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 24 through
29, the protective swim cap does not have the safety feature 102
with open cells 106 and solid free space 104, but maintains the
size, fit, and length of the various embodiments that contain the
safety feature 102. The protective swim cap also maintains the
anatomically correct shape, which enhances fit and function of the
protective swim cap. In one embodiment, the protective swim cap
without the safety feature 102 can be the same thickness as a
standard swim cap. In another embodiment, the protective swim cap
can maintain the thickness of the various embodiments that contain
the safety feature 102 and, therefore, can offer greater protection
than a standard swim cap. It can also include the improved shape
and, therefore, fit and function.
[0050] The protective swim cap can be any number of sizes, some of
which may specifically be used by swimmers with long hair. In one
embodiment, the protective swim cap can have the following
measurements: about 6.50 to 7.50 inches from front 202 to back 206;
about 5.50 to 6.00 inches from side 302 to side 302; about 5.75 to
7.50 inches tall along the middle; about 6.50-7.50 inches tall at
its longest extension in the back 206; and about 6.50 to 7.50
inches tall at its furthest external point.
[0051] In another embodiment, the protective swim cap can be of a
smaller size with one embodiment being 7-10% smaller in all
dimensions than that listed above. Its measurements can be as
follows: about 5.80-6.75 inches from front 202 to back 206;
4.90-5.50 inch cross section from side 302 to side 302; 5.00-6.75
inches tall along the middle; 5.80-6.75 inches tall at its longest
extension in the back 206; and 5.80-6.75 inches tall at its
furthest external point.
[0052] In a further embodiment, the protective swim cap could be
made of a material with higher density properties that maintains
the other properties that allow full functionality of the
protective swim cap as a swim cap to provide increased head
protection, such as may be useful with small children or with
physically at risk populations (such as those who have a histories
of concussions, are developmentally challenged, etc.), therefore
addressing the needs of athletes in the Special Olympics,
Paralympic, or other groups like those. This could take the form of
a low-profile helmet or use of more rigid material in the
protective swim cap itself
[0053] In some embodiments, as illustrated in the figures, the open
cells of the safety feature can each have an aperture on the
exposed interior surface of the wearable safety device. More
specifically, the wearable safety device can have an outer surface,
an inner surface positioned to face a user's body when the wearable
safety device is being worn, a layer of open pillar-shaped cells
below the outer surface, solid material between the plurality of
open, pillar-shaped cells, and a solid layer between the plurality
of open, pillar-shaped cells and the outer surface; wherein the
solid material and the plurality of open, pillar-shaped cells are
alternating and arranged in a honeycomb structure; the open,
pillar-shaped cells each have an aperture on the inner surface; and
at least a portion of the safety device is flexible.
[0054] In other embodiments, the open cells of the safety feature
can each have an aperture on an exposed exterior surface of the
wearable safety device. Therefore, instead of the aperture of the
pillar-shaped cells of the safety feature being located on an inner
surface, they can be located on an outer surface. More
specifically, the wearable safety device can have an outer surface,
an inner surface positioned to face a user's body when the wearable
safety device is being worn, a layer of open pillar-shaped cells
above the inner surface, solid material between the plurality of
open, pillar-shaped cells, and a solid layer between the plurality
of open, pillar-shaped cells and the inner surface; wherein the
solid material and the plurality of open, pillar-shaped cells are
alternating and arranged in a honeycomb structure; the open,
pillar-shaped cells each have an aperture on the outer surface; and
at least a portion of the safety device is flexible.
[0055] The protective swim cap could also be used for a variety of
other aquatic activities such as, but not limited to, diving and
scuba diving. Further, the protective swim cap could be used for
non-aquatic activities such as, but not limited to, wrestling,
rugby, other contact sports, or it could be used for individuals
who are at risk of head injury due to lack of safe motor control
(ex: individuals with epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple
sclerosis, etc.). The protective swim cap could be used as
standalone protective headgear or it could be used as a
supplemental piece of headgear.
[0056] In some embodiments, when the safety feature is used for
non-aquatic activities such as football, rugby, soccer, hockey
etc., the safety feature can be used as the padded protection. For
example, in soccer, shin guards can incorporate the safety feature
either as a standalone shin guard or into a pocket. The safety
feature can be present in a front portion of the shin guard and can
have an elastic feature that wraps around the player's leg and
holds the shin guard in place. Alternatively, the safety feature
can solely cover the shin and can be held in place with a separate
elastic sleeve. In another example, the shin guard may have a hard,
outer shell and the safety feature may be removably or fixedly
attached to an inner surface of the shell so that it is between the
shell and the wearer.
[0057] In a similar manner to soccer equipment, the safety feature
can be incorporated as described above into hockey equipment such
as helmets, shoulder pads, padded shirts, hockey gloves, pants and
girdles, elbow pads, and shin guards. More specifically, the safety
feature can be a stand-alone piece of equipment that replaces
traditional equipment. Alternatively, it may replace the padded
portion of equipment by removably or fixedly attaching to inner or
outer surfaces of the equipment. For example, it could be
incorporated into the interior of a helmet or shoulder pads with
the exterior of those pieces having a hard shell. In another
example, the safety feature could be an exterior feature of a piece
of equipment, such as elbow pads or shin guards, wherein there is
no outer shell.
[0058] As with soccer and hockey, other sports that require
protective equipment could incorporate the safety feature, such as,
but not limited to, football (helmets, pants, girdles, shoulder
pads, elbow pads, knee pads, arm guards, etc.), rugby (headgear,
shoulder pads, shin guards, etc.), and volleyball (knee pads and
elbow pads). Incorporation of the safety feature can be via a
pocket, hook and loop connection wherein one surface of the safety
feature attaches a surface on the protective equipment, snap
connection wherein one surface of the safety feature snaps to a
surface on the protective equipment on either the touching surfaces
or through snap tabs that extend outward and attach to an outer
surface, or any other connection means.
* * * * *